Floor-covering composition.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX NIENSTAEDT, OF PALISADE, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN FLOORING COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK. N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLOOR-COVERING COMPOSITION.

No Drawing.

' ments in Floor-Covering Compositions.

The floor covering composltion is of the kind that is prepared in plastic state, and applied in such condition to the surface or floor to be covered, where it is adapted to set or harden to form the finish surface of the The'invention consists essentlally 1n the combination of a cement binder component with a body component which comprises a portion of tough vegetable fiber, each ofthe fibers thereof being split longitudinally and intimately mixed with the cement and other ingredients.

In the course of many experiments, I have discovered thattough vegetable fiber, when out in about one-quarter inch lengths, can be satisfactorily combined with the cement binder to increase the tensile strength of troweled floor compositions, and that when such fiber are also split lengthwise into one or more longitudinal sections, a further improvement is gained in that the resultlng composition has a finer texture and much greater strength, besides lendmg. itself to easier manipulation during the process of troweling it upon the surface to be'covered. I have found'that the split fibers are softer and more pliable than the whole fiber, and are hence adapted to mix more thoroughly with the other ingredients and to take the color better, and also that by reason of the roughness or iaggedness of their surfaces produced by the splitting, they are more firmly anchored in their cement investment,

and each fiber thus contributes its full ten sile strength to the floor covering.

The tough vegetable fiber which I prefer is commercial istle fiber, because it is per haps the toughest fiber known,-the same being a speciesof A gave, but other tough vege: table fibers, for example, hemp or sisal, are likewise serviceable. These fibers are normally stiff, and though somewhat angular in section, are smooth on their outer surfaces so as to be more or less shiny, particularly when the dried sap and parenchyma have been rubbed off. They may be split up for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed an 23, 1913. Serial No. 780,651.

the purposes of this invention by a beating process, such as may be carried out in a commercial power shredder, producing a relatively soft mass of split fibers about onequarter inch in length, each fiber presenting a rough or irregular surface adapting it to interlock with the cement and adjacent fibers.

In preparing the body component of the composition involving my invention, I proceed as follows: To a quantity of resillent granular material, such as cork-flour, I add about an equal quantity by weight of istle fiber, split or shredded as above described. These fibers, are about one-quarter inch in length, alonger length being objectionable in that it-intenferes with the smoothness of the troweled surface. To this mixture I add a similar or slightly less amount of asbestos, the latter being added for the purpose of affording smoothness to the surface and denseness' to the composition, and for the same purpose I then add a mixture of weight of cement, such as dry magnesium oxid, mixed with a solution of magnesium 'chlorid in water and of a density of about 23 Baum,the amount of solution used be.- ing sufficient only to reduce the mixture to the consistency of stiff dough. This mixture is 1 thoroughly kneaded until the cement binder has become intimately mixed with the granular material, and especially with the split fibrous material. Oil is then added,

linseed being a suitable oil, and thoroughly -worked into" the mass, as by continuedkneading. until its consistency is suitable for trowellng, whereupon it is applied to the floor and allowed to 'set. It will be understood that the proportions of the ingredients may be, varied from the amount above give, thereby altering in one way or another, the character of the finished floor. Thus the use of a larger quantity of cement will tend to make the floor covering i 4' per cent.

mix them together dry as the body compo I nent, with 62 per cent. plaster of Paris and 3 10 per cent/magnesium oxid' as the binder' harder and less resilient. Larger quantities I of inert filler, such as the clay and silex, up

to about 100 per cent. of the ground. cork and fiber,

as the resilience of the covering, although in with the troweling, avoid; all of which excess it will interfere which is important to will now be obvious to art without further description.

By the shredding of the istle fiber, it. is possible and also desirable to use somewhat more of that material than of the ground cork flour or asbestos,.. as the composition is then in its toughest state and best adapted to resist wear as well as strains tending to produce cracks. When the composition has set, it forms into a homogeneous, dense, but elastic mass or layer, having a horn-like feel and appearance, and possessing even greater tensile characteristics than is found in ordinary Portland cement.

'As illustrating the application of the invention'for making harder floor surfaces, 1.

may take 10 per cent. of the split istle fiber, silex, 6 per cent. asbestos and component, the balance being pigment. Thismixture is mixed with ordinary water, into which sugar has been added in the proportion. of one liter of water to 800 grams of sugar, and then troweled on the floor in the usual way. It will be understood, how-.

ever, that the character of the body and binder components may be varied indefiwill tend to give a closer grain to the surface, while added, istle fiber will,;to some extent, increase the toughness as. well,

those skilled in this prising a cement IIGSSGS- nitely according to thecharacter of the ingradients and the kind of floor desired, it being only essential that the split fiber'be combined with the cement and the other ingredients in such manner as to form a mechanical bonding throughout the mass of the product floor.

. I claim:

1. A floor composition adapted for application to'the floor in plastic-state, and combinder component and a body component including tough istle-like vegetable fibers, the latter being split longitudinally and intimately mixed with the cement and other ingredients.-

Y 2. A floor composition adapted to be prepared and applied in plastic state, comprising a granular resilient material mixed with split istle fiber, a filler and a cement binder,

the Whole being mixed with oil and allowed MAX NIENSTAEDT. Witnesses:

MITCHELL HALL, F. A. JoHNsoN. 

